Cloudline Pinot Noir Oregon

Cloudline Pinot Noir is a red wine from the Esplanda label, made in the United States. Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned grape, so wines in this style are usually pale to medium ruby and light to medium in body. Expect red-fruit aromas such as cranberry, red cherry and raspberry, sometimes with earthier notes of forest floor, dried herbs or mushroom. Tannins in the style are typically soft and fine-grained, and the acidity is bright enough to keep the fruit lively. Oak, where it is used, tends to show as light spice or a little vanilla rather than heavy toast. The finish is usually medium in length and clean rather than heavy. These are typical traits of the grape, not a measured profile of this bottle. The bright acidity and low tannin make Pinot Noir a flexible partner at the table. It suits roast chicken, duck breast with a fruit-based sauce, and salmon or seared tuna. It also works with mushroom dishes such as risotto or a pan-seared portobello. Its modest tannin won't overwhelm softer cheeses like Brie, Camembert or young Gruyère. Charcuterie and roasted root vegetables fit too. Very spicy or heavily sauced red-meat dishes will usually overpower a wine this delicate. Serve it slightly cool, at about 55 to 60°F (13 to 16°C). Thirty minutes in the refrigerator before opening usually gets a bottle from room temperature to that range. Warmer service makes the wine taste flatter and more alcoholic. Decanting is rarely needed for a wine like this. If the first pour seems tight, a few minutes in the glass or a brief splash into a decanter will open it up. Use a large-bowled, tapered glass, the classic Burgundy shape, so the aromas gather and the wine reaches the center of the palate. Most Pinot Noir at this level is made to be drunk within a few years of release, while the fruit is fresh. Treat this as a bottle to open soon rather than one to cellar for the long term. If you keep it, store it on its side in a cool, dark place away from temperature swings.